FIGHT THE BITE!How to reduce the mosquito population around your home
Summer is here and so are the mosquitoes! It is important to clean up areas all around your house and garden where mosquitoes like to breed. Take a closer look around your house and property and get rid of mosquito-friendly places that would make good breeding sites or resting places. Pay close attention to areas where water, that has a depth of less than 60cm, might collect, is not exposed to wind, has been present for at least 4 days, and has had no contact with rain.
The most common sites of standing water are: · Old tires, flower pots, bird baths, wheelbarrows, barrels, tin cans or small containers like bottle tops · Lawn chairs, patio furniture and sandbox toys · Eavestroughs, ditches and unused wading and swimming pools that may collect water and remain stagnant · Ornamental ponds and rain barrels Some great ways to eliminate stagnant water are: · Turn over wheelbarrows and wading pools to prevent water from collecting · Drill holes in the bottom of containers so water will drain · Check eaves and drains and remove any debris that may clog or prevent water from draining · Change water in bird baths at least once a week · Provide a cover over your rain barrel · Turn over compost piles regularly and level out or fill in areas of low depression on your lawn · Clear out dense shrubbery where mosquitoes like to rest
Above all, SPREAD THE WORD! Talk to your friends and neighbors and point out potential breeding areas.
The best way to keep mosquitoes away is to clean up areas where they are likely to breed!
For more information about mosquitoes and West Nile virus, please visit the Public Health website www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca. Or visit your local municipality for the latest brochures with important information on West Nile virus. -30- |
We work with the Grey Bruce community to protect and promote health
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